Lorries

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 520W, on lorries, what level of heavy goods vehicle movements per day on  (a) A-class roads and  (b) motorways causes significant structural or surface wear effects.

Tom Harris: The effect on the structural and surface conditions of a road as a result of an increase in heavy goods traffic is dependent on the prior condition of the road. A detailed survey of a particular road would be necessary to establish the prior structural and surface conditions in order to assess the impact of future traffic. However, motorways in England are well built and typically, a busy motorway carries 20,000 heavy goods vehicles per day. A doubling of this flow is likely to have a significant effect on the structural and surface conditions. On the A class roads, the type of construction and the structural and surface conditions are extremely variable. It is not possible to produce a similar estimate.

Vehicle Data Recording Devices

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment her Department has made of the merits of requiring the installation of event data recorders in all new vehicles.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport has not conducted a detailed assessment of this technology however, there is significant international interest in this subject and research for the European Commission recently reported on the competing technologies, their compatibility with all classes of vehicle and their usefulness in accident reconstruction. The programme also reviewed the legal implications for their use. The European Commission has extended their research to consider the drafting of technical, legal and administrative standards for use as mandatory or as recommended requirements for electronic data recorder implementation in Europe.
	We have held discussions with the European Commission and intend to contribute to the development of the standards for this technology.

Armed Forces: Manpower

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) regular military personnel,  (b) Territorial Army and other part-time military personnel and  (c) civilian personnel were employed by his Department in (i) total, (ii) Yorkshire and the Humber, (iii) North Yorkshire and (iv) City of York in each year since 1979.

Derek Twigg: The following table shows total UK Regular Forces and Civilian Personnel Strength at 1 April, in each year since 1979.
	
		
			  As at 1 April:  UK regular forces  Civilian personnel 
			 1979 315,000 (1)— 
			 1980 320,600 (1)— 
			 1981 333,800 (1)— 
			 1982 327,600 (1)— 
			 1983 320,600 (1)— 
			 1984 325,900 (1)— 
			 1985 326,200 (1)— 
			 1986 322,500 (1)— 
			 1987 319,900 (1)— 
			 1988 316,900 (1)— 
			 1989 311,700 (1)— 
			 1990 305,800 (1)— 
			 1991 299,500 (1)— 
			 1992 293,500 (1)— 
			 1993 274,800 159,600 
			 1994 254,500 149,100 
			 1995 233,300 141,300 
			 1996 221,900 135,400 
			 1997 210,800 133,300 
			 1998 210,100 126,300 
			 1999 208,600 123,000 
			 2000 207,600 121,300 
			 2001 205,600 118,200 
			 2002 204,700 110,100 
			 2003 206,900 107,600 
			 2004 207,000 109,000 
			 2005 201,100 108,500 
			 2006 195,900 103,900 
			 2007 (2) 190,400 98,000 
			 (1) denotes not available. Civilian data prior to 1993 are not available in centrally held databases. As a result it is not possible to produce a consistent time series since 1979 without incurring disproportionate cost. (2) denotes provisional. Due to the introduction of a new Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system, armed forces data at 1 April 2007 are provisional and subject to review. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 100.  Notes:  1. UK regular forces includes Nursing services and excludes Full Time Reserve Service personnel, Gurkhas, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists. It includes trained and untrained personnel. 2. Civilian strengths are based on the revised definition of MOD civilian personnel introduced in April 2004. MOD civilian total includes locally engaged civilians, Royal fleet auxiliary personnel and overseas personnel outside UK. 
		
	
	The strength of UK Reserve Forces (including Volunteer and Regular Reserves) from 1990 to 2006 is available in table 2.14 of United Kingdom Defence Statistics (UKDS) 2006 and is available at:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/natstats/ukds/2006/c2/table214.html
	Data on the Reserve Forces are not available in centrally held databases. As a result it is not possible to produce a consistent time series since 1979 without incurring disproportionate cost.
	The strength of UK Regular Forces posted in the Yorkshire and Humber Government Office Region (GOR) is available in table 4 of Tri-Service Publication (TSP) 10—UK Regular Forces distribution across UK. The most recent tri-service publication is at 1 April 2006 and is available at:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/natstats/tsp 10/tsp_10_apr06.pdf
	Copies of TSP 10 are available in the Library of the House and are also available at
	www.dasa.mod.uk.
	TSP 10 data are not available in centrally held databases. As a result it is not possible to produce a consistent time series since 1979 without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Data on the posted location of Volunteer Reserve forces are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The following table shows Civilian personnel strength in Yorkshire and the Humber, North Yorkshire and the City of York.
	
		
			   Civilian Personnel 
			  As at 1 April:  Yorkshire and the Humber  North Yorkshire  City of York 
			 1993 5,320 n/a  
			 1994 5,080 n/a n/a 
			 1995 4,670 n/a n/a 
			 1996 3,860 n/a n/a 
			 1997 3,750 n/a n/a 
			 1998 3,510 n/a n/a 
			 1999 3,490 n/a n/a 
			 2000 3,300 n/a n/a 
			 2001 3,290 n/a n/a 
			 2002 3,410 n/a n/a 
			 2003 3,560 n/a n/a 
			 2004 3,910 n/a n/a 
			 2005 3,910 n/a n/a 
			 2006 3,690 2,000 760 
			 2007 3,590 1,980 650 
			 n/a = not available  Note: Civilian data by local authority for North Yorkshire and City of York is only available for April 2006 onwards. Prior to this it is not possible to produce a consistent time series without incurring disproportionate cost.

Defence Export Services Organisation

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff are employed by the Defence Export Service Organisation (DESO); what estimate he has made of the volume of UK defence exports which are principally attributable to the work of DESO since 1995; and if he will make a statement on the future of DESO.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 23 July 2007
	For the number of staff employed in the Defence Exports Services Organisation (DESO), I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor on 1 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1542W, to the (my) hon. (Friend the) Member for Totnes (Mr. Steen). On the future of DESO, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 16 July 2007,  Official Report, column 13W, to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable).
	The annual value of total export orders won in recent years is given in UK Defence Statistics, published annually. These reflect a number of factors, including the contribution made by support from DESO.

Defence Medical Services: Manpower

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) requirement and  (b) percentage of required personnel in post is in the medical corps of the (i) Army, (ii) Royal Navy and (iii) Royal Air Force.

Derek Twigg: The information for uniformed medical and dental professional (i.e. a total of doctor, dentist, nurse and allied health professional cadres) is set out in the following table. The numbers are as at 1 April 2007.
	
		
			   RN  Army  RAF 
			 Requirement 1,529 4,803 1,919 
			 Manning 1,242 3,417 1,527 
			 Percentage in post 81.22 71.14 79.57 
		
	
	The Department is taking active steps to address the shortfalls, through a range of pay and non-remunerative initiatives including:
	 (a) Payment of "Golden Helios" to direct entrants into specialist areas where there is greatest shortfall.
	 (b) Payment of Financial Retention Initiatives to encourage individuals in operational pinch point specialities to return to and remain in speciality.
	 (c) Managing medical deployments on a tri-Service basis allowing the workload to be shared more evenly and maximising capabilities.
	 (d) Prioritising resources to support operations.
	 (e) Establishing alternative means of meeting operational commitments (e.g. use of Reserves and civilian agency contractors and working closely with allies on operations.
	 (f) Continued development of military career pathways. For example, we are implementing the Defence Nursing Strategy to enhance the career pathway for military nurses. As part of this initiative, Defence Specialist Nursing Advisors have been appointed for each specialism, to plan and manage recruitment and retention in their own specialism.
	 (g) Encouraging personnel to train and remain in operational pinch point specialities.
	The Department has met all the operational requirements and the level of medical care remains extremely high.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to increase the number of operationally deployable helicopters.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 17 July 2007
	 We announced on 30 March, the purchase of six new Merlin helicopters, which will be available within a year, and the conversion of existing Chinook Mk 3 helicopters currently estimated to be available in two years. We keep our equipment requirements under constant review to ensure the appropriate number of platforms is available for operational deployment. In addition, work under the Future Rotorcraft Capability programme will ensure we are able to meet our battlefield support helicopter capabilities in the long-term.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers received  (a) up to £50,000,  (b) £50,001 to £100,000,  (c) £100,001 to £150,000,  (d) £150,001 to £200,000,  (e) £200,001 to £250,000,  (f) £250,001 to £300,000,  (g) £300,001 to £350,000,  (h) £350,001 to £400,000,  (i) £400,001 to £450,000 and  (j) £450,001 to £500,000 in single payment scheme payments for 2006.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 19 July 2007
	The number of claimants who have received payments to date for the Single Payment Scheme year 2006 are as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Up to £50,000 100,704 
			 £50,001 to £100,000 4,990 
			 £100,001 to £150,000 1,024 
			 £150,001 to £200,000 303 
			 £200,001 to £250,000 118 
			 £250,001 to £300,000 52 
			 £300,001 to £350,000 24 
			 £350,001 to £400,000 22 
			 £400,001 to £450,000 11 
			 £450,001 to £500,000 9 
		
	
	The assessment of claims paid has been updated from my earlier response given to him on 10 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1365W, and reflects additional payments made in the intervening period, moving certain claimants into the >£50,000 banding.

Animal Welfare: Research

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will list the research projects funded by his Department into issues related to animal health and welfare in each of the last 10 years; and how much funding was allocated to each project.

Jonathan R Shaw: The number of animal health and welfare research projects funded by DEFRA in the last 10 years can be found in the following table:
	
		
			  Project area  Number of R and D projects 
			 Animal Welfare 264 
			 BSE and other TSE's 128 
			 Disease Prevention 286 
			 Endemic Disease and Zoonoses 175 
			 Veterinary Medicines 73 
		
	
	A full breakdown and funding for each of these projects can be found on the DEFRA website.

Carbon Emissions

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what level of carbon emissions resulted from large commercial and public sector organisations in the latest year for which figures are available.

Joan Ruddock: The Public Sector was responsible for 4 per cent.(1) of UK CO2 emissions. Electricity consumption accounted for approximately 10.2 Mt of CO2 emissions in 2005—about 47 per cent. of the public sector's total emission.
	The energy service directives to be implemented by 17 May 2008 sets a national indicative target of 9 per cent. energy savings in member states by 2017. Article 5 requires the public sector to fulfil an exemplary role in delivering the directive. In fulfilling this role the Government will implement measures relating to the procurement of energy using products and/or buildings. These will be applied across the public sector alongside published guidance on how energy efficiency and energy savings can be used as a possible assessment criterion in procurement.
	Emissions from the commercial sector amounted to 9 per cent. of total UK emissions in 2005, including 39.5 Mt CO2 from electricity use, around 76 per cent. of total emissions from this sector.
	(1) All percentages and emissions are quoted on a final user basis—emissions from the energy supply (power stations, refineries, mining etc) sector are reallocated to the sector where the electricity or fuels are used. Emissions from the UK Overseas Territories are excluded from these figures.

Waste Disposal: Electronic Equipment

Tony Wright: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many electronic items were disposed of by the House in each year since 2001; how many were in working order when they were disposed of; and how many were  (a) recycled and  (b) donated to charitable organisations.

Nick Harvey: Information is held on the disposal of  (a) electronic desktop equipment and  (b) telephones, including mobile telephones.
	Members' IT equipment was provided centrally for the first time in 2001 and became due for disposal only from mid-2005. A total of 4,053 items of desktop equipment used by Members and staff of the House of Commons were disposed of between May 2005 and December 2006 as part of the periodic refresh programme. A further 812 items were disposed of between January and June 2007.
	The disposal of all these items was managed by a 3(rd) party contractor, responsible for secure data removal and onward recycling or sale as appropriate. The House received the residual value of sales, after the deduction of costs. Information from the supplier is presented to the House in order to meet its asset management responsibilities, but this does not provide detail on whether individual items were still in working order. The contractor does not make charitable donations.
	Telephone handsets are re-used within the House if possible and otherwise assigned for safe disposal. Since June 2004 redundant mobile telephones have been sent for recycling and the proceeds are donated to charity. Detailed records have been kept since May 2006 and these show that 221 items have been sent for recycling since that date.

Employment: Training

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what incentives are in place to encourage employers to spend money on on-the-job training;
	(2)  what steps the Government are taking to improve on-the-job training.

David Lammy: Employers invest very substantial time and resources in the skills of their employees. In 2005 employers reported that they spent around £33 billion on training (including the wage costs of trainees). However, Lord Leitch's review of skills last year set out the major challenge ahead if the UK is truly to be a world leader in skills by 2020. The Government have recently published 'World Class Skills', setting out how we will implement the Leitch review in England. This says that achieving the change in culture that the Leitch ambitions demand, will require a major new investment of time, effort and money by employers and individuals. But it also says that Government have a responsibility to support them, and 'World Class Skills' sets out how we will meet that responsibility.
	Government have a range of support in place designed to motivate employers to invest in the skills of their employees. This includes Train to Gain, Apprenticeships and Foundation Degrees. Train to Gain is a major new service that will raise skills levels and the quality of training across England.
	Train to Gain offers a holistic service to employers. Independent and impartial skills brokers work with the employers to identify how skills might help them meet their business goals, including increased productivity. The Skills Brokers help the employer identify possible sources of public funding available, as well set out the employer investment, in both cash and in paid time off for employees to study for the relevant qualification. Training when appropriate is often held on the employers premises.
	In its first year of operation it has already engaged more than 40,000 employers with some 70 per cent. of those defined as hard to reach (i.e. not recognised as an Investor in People and no recorded investment in training).
	From 2008-09, employers will be able to access matched funding for level 3 programmes as part of the package they put together with skills brokers, and we will continue to develop the higher level skills offer in the light of the current Higher Level Skills Pathfinders. We will also support discrete Skills for Life programmes as well as those embedded within level 2 programmes for those who do not already have a level 2 qualification.

Skilled Workers: Foreigners

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which 10 employment sectors employ the largest number of foreign skilled labourers in the UK; and from which 10 countries the greatest numbers of such workers come to the UK.

Bill Rammell: The following tables show estimates from the Annual Population Survey (APS), 2006, for the United Kingdom. The data relate to foreign workers employed at the time of the survey who arrived in the UK since the start of 2003, who hold some kind qualification, and who were not full-time students at the time of the survey.
	
		
			  Employment by nationality 
			  Country  Number employed from foreign countries who have arrived in the UK since 2003 with some  qualifications, excluding full- time students* 
			 Poland 109,000 
			 India 58,000 
			 Former USSR etc. 30,000 
			 South Africa 30,000 
			 Former Czechoslovakia 23,000 
			 USA 20,000 
			 Australia 20,000 
			 France 18,000 
			 Philippines 13,000 
			 Germany 12,000 
			 Top 10 total 333,000 
			   
			 All other countries 182,000 
			   
			 Grand total 515,000 
		
	
	
		
			  Employment by sector 
			  Sector  Number employed from foreign countries who have arrived in the UK since 2003 with some qualifications, excluding full time students* 
			 Manufacturing 81,000 
			 Real estate, renting and business activities 76,000 
			 Health and social work 76,000 
			 Hotels and restaurants 56,000 
			 Wholesale, retail and motor trade 55,000 
			 Transport, storage and communication 35,000 
			 Construction 32,000 
			 Education 26,000 
			 Financial intermediation 25,000 
			 Other community, social and personal 22,000 
			 Top 10 total 484,000 
			   
			 All other sectors (inc. not identified) 31,000 
			   
			 Grand total 515,000 
			  Notes: The number of foreign workers presented here is likely to be understated, because the APS: 1. Excludes those who have not been a resident in the UK for 6 months 2. Excludes people in most other types of communal establishments (e.g. hotels, boarding houses, hostels, mobile home sites, etc.) 3. Is grossed to population estimates that only include migrants staying for 12 months or more 4. Is only grossed to population estimates consistent with those published in spring 2003, which are significantly lower than the latest population estimates.  Source: Annual Population Survey, 2006

Unemployment: Poole

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many 16 to 24 year olds in Poole are not in employment, education or training.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	We estimate from data provided by the Connexions Service that 174 16 to 18-year-olds (i.e. young people aged 16, 17 or 18) were not in education, employment or training (NEET) in the Poole local authority area at the end of June 2007. Equivalent information is not available for 19 to 24-year-olds.
	These NEET measures are those used for setting and monitoring Local Authority NEET targets. The definition differs from that used to measure the national departmental PSA NEET target. The Connexions NEET measure does not cover the entire population for example it excludes those on gap years and those in custody. The PSA measure is for academic rather than calendar age 16-18.

Museums and Galleries: Yorkshire and Humberside

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the national museums in  (a) Yorkshire and the Humber and  (b) City of York received in Government grants in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: Grant in aid for the national museums which fall within  (a) Yorkshire and Number and  (b) the City of York is as follows.
	
		
			  £000 
			  Museum  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 National Coal Mining Museum of England(1) n/a n/a n/a 1,152 1,332 2,073 2,408 2,445 2,539(2) 2,528 2,659 
			 National Media Museum(3,4) 2,977 2,969 3,907 3,723 3,683 4,180 4,523 4,187 4,214 4,979 4,661 
			 National Railway Museum(3) 9,126 3,647 3,758 3,932 4,708 5,664 6,759 6,967 6,598 7,753 7,605 
			 Royal Armouries Leeds(5) 5,223 3,723 4,807 5,227 5,945 6,157 6,286 6,887 7,276 7,654 8,312 
			 Total 11,515 10,036 11,599 14,000 15,568 17,967 19,150 20,179 20,479 22,057 23,863 
			 (1 )The Government started providing grant funding to the National Coal Mining Museum England through the National Museum of Science and Industry in 2000-01. (2 )This figure differs from the one given in the in the answer of 20 October 2004,  Official Report, column 732W, as it includes an additional £113,000 in capital funding. (3) Formerly the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television. (4) The Government provide grant in aid to the National Museum of Science and Industry (NMSI) of which the National Media Museum and the National Railway Museum are branch museums. Funding to its branch museums is allocated by the NMSI. The figures shown here differ from those given in the answer of 20 October 2004,  Official Report, column 732W, as they include capital allocations and, from 2002-03 to 2006-07, also contain outturn figures for resource grant in aid as opposed to the estimates used in the previous answer. (5) This is the total allocation for the Royal Armouries, which includes its Leeds, Fort Nelson and the Tower of London branches. Royal Armouries in Leeds is the headquarters.

National Lottery: Play

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what will happen to any unallocated monies from the Big Lottery Fund funding for play projects when the September deadline for applications passes.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In March 2007, The Big Lottery Fund wrote to the Chief Executives of all local authorities asking them to inform them if they were not planning to take up their allocation for the play programme. However, none of the local authorities have informed the Big Lottery Fund of not taking up their allocation.
	After the September 2007 application window, the Big Lottery Fund will ascertain any under spend and a decision on how to allocate this will be taken by the Fund's Board in due course.

10 Downing Street: Charity Receptions

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the official and charity receptions held at 10 Downing street in the financial year 2006-07.

Gordon Brown: I have today published a list of official and charity receptions held at 10 Downing street for the financial year 2006-07.
	The total cost of official and charity receptions held by my predecessor at 10 Downing street and Chequers for the financial year 2006-07 was £87,000.
	
		
			  Official and charity receptions hosted by the then Prime Minister (right hon. Tony Blair) and Mrs. Blair 2006-07 
			  Date  Event  Number  Host 
			 28 March 2007 Charity—Westminster Cathedral Building Appeal 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 27 March 2007 Charity—Royal Court Theatre 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 20 March 2007 Charity—Wiener Library 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 13 March 2007 Charity—National Museums Liverpool 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 12 March 2007 Government—Britain's Younger Researchers in Science 150 Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair 
			 8 March 2007 Charity—Women In Sports Foundation 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 6 March 2007 Government—Press Gallery Essay Competition 40 Prime Minister 
			 1 March 2007 Charity—World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 7 February 2007 Charity—Motor Neurone Disease 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 6 February 2007 Charity—Get Ahead Charitable Appeal 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 30 January 2007 Charity—Music for Autism 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 22 January 2007 Government—Commemoration of the Abolition of the Slave Trade 150 Prime Minister 
			 17 January 2007 Charity—Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 16 January 2007 Charity—Rainbow Trust 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 15 January 2007 Government—Children's Centres Extended Schools 150 Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair 
			 11 January 2007 Charity—FSID 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 18 December 2006 Charity—Pulmonary Hypertension Association 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 13 December 2006 Government—Women's own Children of Courage Award Winners 40 Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair 
			 12 December 2006 Government—Voluntary Sector 150 Prime Minister 
			 12 December 2006 Charity—Iain Rennie Hospice at Home 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 6 December 2006 Charity—Rights and Humanity 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 6 December 2006 Charity—Christmas Party—Kirsty Howard Appeal 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 5 December 2006 Charity—NSPCC 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 22 November 2006 Charity—Fence Club 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 22 November 2006 Government—Pledgebank 150 Prime Minister 
			 21 November 2006 Charity—Arrhythmia Alliance 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 20 November 2006 Government - House Magazine 30(th) Anniversary 150 Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair 
			 14 November 2006 Government Eve of Session 150 Prime Minister 
			 13 November 2006 Charity—Kennedy Trust Tea 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 7 November 2006 Charity reception—Sutton Trust 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 2 November 2006 Government—Daily Express Lifesaver Award Winners 30 Prime Minister 
			 1 November 2006 Government—News of the World Children's Champions 70 Mrs. Blair 
			 31 October 2006 Charity—Lord Mayor's Appeal 2006 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 30 October 2006 Government—Safeguarding Children 150 Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair 
			 24 October 2006 Government—Commemorate the life of Hadi Saleh 40 Prime Minister 
			 17 October 2006 Charity—Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 10 October 2006 Charity—YMCA England 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 3 October 2006 Charity—Patient Voices Group—Beating Bowel Cancer 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 19 September 2006 Charity—NOFAS-UK 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 12 September 2006 Charity—Student Partnership Worldwide 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 11 September 2006 Government—Domestic Violence 150 Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair 
			 5 September 2006 Charity—Eastbourne Art Gallery 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 18 July 2006 Government—Government Motor Show 100 Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair 
			 13 July 2006 Government - Police Bravery Award Winners 150 Prime Minister 
			 12 July 2006 Charity—Citizenship Foundation 45 Mrs. Blair 
			 11 July 2006 Charity—War Child 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 3 July 2006 Government—Nurses 150 Prime Minister 
			 27 June 2006 Charity—Weston Spirit 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 27 June 2006 Government—War Vets 150 Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair 
			 17 June 2006 Government—Trooping of the Colour 150 Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair 
			 13 June 2006 Government—Public Services 450 Prime Minister 
			 13 June 2006 Charity—LIPA 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 24 May 2006 Government—Soccer Aid 45 Prime Minister 
			 23 May 2006 Charity—Snowdon Awards Scheme 25(th )Anniversary 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 18 May 2006 Charity - Nightingale 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 16 May 2006 Charity—Working Families 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 10 May 2006 18:30 Government—Head Teachers 150 Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair 
			 9 May 2006 Charity—Anti-Slavery International 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 25 April 2006 Charity—Lords House Farm 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 24 April 2006 Government—Further Education 150 Prime Minister 
			 18 April 2006 Charity—Industry and Parliament Trust 40 Mrs. Blair 
			 4 April 2006 Charity—Howard League for Penal Reform 40 Mrs. Blair

Chequers

Gordon Banks: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the guests entertained at public expense at Chequers since 1 April 2006.

Gordon Brown: I have today published a list of attendees at Chequers dinners hosted by my predecessor from 1 April 2006-27 June 2007.
	 Chequers dinners attendees 1 April 2006-27 June 2007
	Mr. David Aaronovitch
	Mr. David Adjye
	Mr. Charles Allen
	The Hon. Stephen Benn
	The Rt. Reverend the Lord Bishop of Oxford
	The right hon. David Blunkett MP
	Ms Ginny Buckley
	Mrs. Sarah Byrne
	Mr. Liam Byrne MP
	Sir Ian Carruthers
	Lady Joan Carruthers
	Mr. Michael Cashman MP
	Mr. Adrian Chiles
	Ms Charlotte Church
	Ms Nita Clarke
	Mr. Paul Costello
	Mrs. Anne Costello
	Mr. Paul Cottingham
	Ms Tess Daly
	Mr. Andy Duncan
	Mrs. Jocelyn Duncan
	Mrs. Deirdre Dyson
	Mr. James Dyson CBE
	Mr. Chris Evans
	Mr. Michael Fisher
	Judge David Fletcher
	Mrs. Janet Fletcher
	Mr. Brendan Foster
	Mrs. Sue Foster
	Mr. Martin Frizzell
	Ms Jane Garvey
	Mr. Peter Gershon
	Mrs. Eileen Gershon
	Lord Anthony Giddens
	Lady Alena Giddens
	Mr. John Hannett
	Mrs. Linda Hannett
	Dr. Josephine Harries
	Mr. Gavin Henson
	Mr. Andy Hornby
	Mrs. Cathy Hornby
	Mr. Nick Jones
	Mr. Vernon Kay
	Ms Lorraine Kelly
	Mr. Justin King
	Mrs. Claire King
	Ms Julie Lewis
	Ms Liz Lloyd
	Mr. Richard Madeley
	Ms Chloe Madeley
	Mr. Steve McClaren
	Mrs. Kathryn McClaren
	Mr. Pat McFadden MP
	Ms Claire Murphy
	Mr. Jim Murphy MP
	Mr. Peter Neyroud
	Mrs. Sarah Neyroud
	Mr. Eric Nicoli
	Mrs. Lucy Nicoli
	Mrs. Indra Nooyi
	Mr. Raj Nooyi
	Ms Fiona Phillips
	Ms Sarah Powell
	Mrs. Pauline Prescott
	The right hon. John Prescott MP
	Ms Sharon Reed
	Lord Sainsbury
	Lady Susie Sainsbury
	Mr. William Sargent
	Ms June Sarpong
	The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr. John Sentamu
	Mrs. Margaret Sentamu
	The right hon. Jacqui Smith MP
	Mr. Steve Smith
	Mr. Richard Stephens
	Mr. Richard Timney
	Ms Marianna Trian
	Mr. Paul Walsh
	Mr. Benjamin Wegg Prosser
	Mrs. Yulia Wegg Prosser
	Colonel Richard Williams
	Mrs. Philippa Williams
	The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams
	Mrs. Jane Williams
	Ms Kirsty Young

HIV Infection: Drugs

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use of anti-retroviral drugs in programmes  (a) run and  (b) supported by his Department for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in (i) Rwanda and (ii) other developing countries.

Shahid Malik: holding answer 23 July 2007
	In Rwanda, DFID provides support worth £4,250,000 through non-governmental organisations towards anti-retroviral therapy and community based care to 2,500 HIV positive women genocide survivors and their families. The number of people on treatment in Rwanda has risen from 4,000 in 2003 to 37,200 in March 2007 with national incidence of the spread of HIV/AIDS stabilising at around 3 per cent.
	The UK Government also fund and support the provision on anti-retroviral services through contributions to multilateral organisations. DFID has pledged £359 million to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria over the 2002-08 period. Evidence shows that anti-retroviral treatments are effective, with an estimated 250,000 to 350 000 premature deaths averted in the developing world in 2005 alone. Overall, in low- and middle-income countries the trends are upwards, from 400,000 in 2003 to more than 2 million people on treatment today.

Draft Legislation Programme

Graham Allen: To ask the Leader of the House if she will make it her usual policy to subject bills to pre-legislative scrutiny.

Helen Goodman: The Government endeavour to subject bills to pre-legislative scrutiny, where timing and other constraints allow. As indicated in the Government's recently published Draft Legislative Programme (CM7175), 58 draft Bills have been published since 1997.
	The publication of the Draft Legislative Programme is the first time public consultation has been sought before the Queen's Speech and is a further element in the exposure of legislative plans to scrutiny ahead of introduction. The Government believe this consultation will lead to better engagement between MPs, peers and the people.

Pensioners: Disability Living Allowance

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to make arrangements to ensure that eligibility arrangements for  (a) disability living allowance and  (b) vehicle excise duty are amended in line with the pension eligibility change when pensionable age is raised to 67.

Anne McGuire: The age limit for claiming disability living allowance will be increased incrementally with effect from 6 April 2024 in line with the age increases to state pension age. The measure is being taken forward as part of the Pensions Bill currently passing through Parliament.
	Vehicle excise duty exemption policy is a matter for my hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Children: Databases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many people the Government estimate will have access to ContactPoint.

Kevin Brennan: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 18 July 2007,  Official Report, column 412W.

Children's Centres

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what additional resources he is providing to ensure the delivery by 2010 of the planned Sure Start children's centres; and what training programmes are in place to ensure each centre has access to sufficient trained staff to effectively run the centre.

Beverley Hughes: We have secured additional resources through the recent comprehensive spending review settlement to meet our manifesto commitment of 3,500 Sure Start Children's Centres by 2010. The Department will be advising all 150 local authorities in England of their children's centre revenue allocations for 2008-10 shortly.
	Over the next few years we will train sufficient numbers of centre managers, through the National College for School Leadership, and early years professionals, through the Children's Workforce Development Council, to support the expansion of centres.
	Our practice guidance encourages children's centres to work towards all staff being qualified to at least National Vocational Qualification level 2 and makes clear that we expect all centre managers to undertake training specifically designed for their new role—the National Professional Qualification for Integrated Centre Leadership. Our Children's Workforce Strategy recommends the development of local workforce strategies as an integral part of local Children and Young People's Plans. These should set out local approaches to developing the workforce. We published in July statutory guidance on the local authority duty to secure the provision of training to the early years and childcare workforce.

Departments: Carbon Emissions

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department carbon off-sets foreign visits made by its staff; at what cost for visits made in the last 12 months; and what level of carbon dioxide was offset.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government have committed to offsetting all official domestic and foreign air travel from 1 April 2006. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated annually and subsequently offset through payments to the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund. The Fund purchases certified emissions reductions credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries. The cost of air travel during the last financial year was £256,974, and 275 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent were offset. The figures provided do not include data from the regional Government offices or our executive agencies.
	The Department does not offset foreign rail travel and is currently unable to accurately calculate this aspect of its carbon emissions.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of construction costs of  (a) a zero carbon home and  (b) an average non-zero carbon home.

Iain Wright: The costs of zero carbon homes and non-zero carbon homes vary depending on the technologies and construction products used. A regulatory impact assessment was undertaken to support the Government's announcement that from 2016, all new homes will be zero carbon. The regulatory impact assessment sets out the estimated cost of a zero carbon new homes in 2016 above the cost of a non-zero carbon home. The regulatory impact assessment can be found on the Department's website and in the Library of the House.

Local Government: Equal Pay

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what resources are available to local government to meet the cost of equal pay.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Cannock Chase (Dr. Wright) on 19 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 492-94W.
	Equal pay is not a new pressure, and local authorities will need to manage any equal pay pressures within the range of resources available such as central grant and council tax, and seeking capitalisation where necessary. Many authorities have already
	revised their pay arrangements, and others have put aside sufficient reserves.

Local Government: Inspections

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what role the  (a) Electoral Commission,  (b) Office for the Surveillance Commissioner,  (c) Food Standards Agency and  (d) Health and Safety Executive/Commission have in inspecting local authorities.

John Healey: The Electoral Commission undertakes reviews of electoral arrangements in local government in England. The Surveillance Commissioner is responsible for establishing compliance with the powers granted by Parliament to authorise and conduct covert surveillance operations carried out by all local authorities, except the intelligence services. The Health and Safety Executive's role, as an enforcing authority, includes responsibility for enforcement against local authorities as an employer under the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1998. The Health and Safety Commission also expects all local authorities to undergo an inter-authority audit of their management of health and safety enforcement at least once every five years. The Food Standard Agency audits local authorities in accordance with relevant EC guidelines, to ensure the delivery of official feed and food controls—largely enforced by local environmental health and trading standards services.
	The Local Authority Better Regulation Group in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) is leading on ensuring co-ordination between the different national bodies who have roles re local authority regulatory services (eg Food Standards Agency, Consumer and Trading Standards Agency, etc.).

Non-Domestic Rates: Tax Allowances

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for the review of non-domestic rate reliefs and exemptions; and whether the Government intends to publish a consultation paper.

John Healey: Reviewing business rates reliefs and exemptions has been included in the ongoing work of Communities and Local Government, involving other Departments and stakeholders as appropriate. Any proposals emerging from the review will of course be subject to consultation in the usual way.

Sustainable Development

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment her Department has made of the effect on communities of being designated as unsustainable as a consequence of Planning Policy Statement 1.

Iain Wright: Planning Policy Statement 1 "Delivering Sustainable Development" sets out the key role of planning in contributing to the delivery of sustainable development. In particular, the planning system should facilitate and promote sustainable and inclusive patterns of urban and rural development by:
	making suitable land available for development in line with economic, social and environmental objectives to improve people's quality of life;
	contributing to sustainable economic development;
	protecting and enhancing the natural and historic environment, the quality and character of the countryside, and existing communities;
	ensuring high quality development through good and inclusive design, and the efficient use of resources; and,
	ensuring that development supports existing communities and contributes to the creation of safe, sustainable, liveable and mixed communities with good access to jobs and key services for all members of the community.
	Policies in regional and local development plans, together with national planning policies, provide the framework for decisions on future urban and rural development. In preparing development plans, planning authorities have a statutory requirement to do so in way that contributes to the delivery of sustainable development. Part of that process will be to ensure that policies in plans seek to improve the sustainability of existing communities as well as ensuring new developments contribute towards that aim.

Thames Gateway

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what response she has made to the National Audit Office report Thames Gateway: Laying the Foundations, with particular regard to the sections on performance and planning; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: There was a hearing of the Committee of Public Accounts on 13 June 2007 based on the National Audit Office's report. Subsequent to the hearing the Department will receive a report from the Committee of Public Accounts with recommendations, which the Government will then respond to.
	After the hearing the Department's Permanent Secretary wrote a follow-up note to the Committee in response to questions raised by hon. Members.
	The Thames Gateway Executive has already implemented the majority of the recommendations in the original National Audit Office report which formed the basis of the Committee of Public Accounts hearing. In particular a cross-Government board for the Thames Gateway has been set up and will have its third meeting on 19 July. A final delivery plan for the Thames Gateway is being prepared which will be completed later this year. Finally a communications strategy for the Thames Gateway is also being prepared.

Travelling People: Regional Planning and Development

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department provides on the  (a) definitions and  (b) methodology for calculating the (i) regional, (ii) national and (iii) local need for authorised traveller site provision.

Iain Wright: Local authorities are required to undertake accommodation needs assessments for Gypsies and Travellers in their area, and Communities and Local Government has provided draft guidance on this. A final version will be published shortly. regional assemblies are responsible for reviewing regional spatial strategies to determine regional pitch requirements and allocate them between local authorities, and Communities and Local Government has published research to assist with this process.
	Both of these documents are available on our website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1153486
	Guidance on calculating national levels of need is not produced.

Departments: Legislation

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criminal offences have been created by primary legislation sponsored by her Department since October 2006.

Jacqui Smith: Since October 2006, criminal offences were created in the following Acts sponsored by the Home Office:
	 (a) Police and Justice Act 2006
	Making supplying or obtaining articles for use in computer misuse offences (section 37)
	 (b) Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006
	Breach of a drinking banning order (section 11)
	Persistently selling alcohol to children (section 23)
	Using someone to mind a weapon (section 28)
	Selling air weapons unless a registered firearms dealer (section 31)
	Sale of air weapons by way of trade or business where the sale is not done face to face section 32)
	Firing an air weapon beyond premises (section 34)
	Sale and purchase of primers (section 35)
	Manufacture, sale, importation of realistic imitation firearms (section 36)
	Non-compliance with specifications for imitation firearms (section 39)
	Sale/purchase of imitation firearms to/by minors (section 40)
	Sale and disposal of tickets for a designated football match by an unauthorised person (section 53)
	Both Acts also amended some existing offences in certain respects.

DNA Database

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 26 April 2007 to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam,  Official Report, column 1234W, on the DNA Database, 
	(1)  on how many occasions a positive match against one of the individuals recorded in the database has been made in relation to a police investigation in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what records are kept of positive matches located in a search of the National DNA Database;
	(3)  how many searches were made of the National DNA database in each of the last five years; and how many resulted in  (a) a match,  (b) a familial match and  (c) a sanction detection;
	(4)  how many offences were detected through a DNA match with an individual whose DNA was taken in a no further action arrest in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The purpose of the National DNA Database (NDNAD) is to hold a record of a person's DNA which can be matched against DNA taken from crime scenes. The NDNAD only reports matches between DNA profile records based on DNA profile compatibility, and sends them to police forces for the use in an investigation. It does not hold data on arrests, charges and convictions. Such information is held on the Police National Computer (PNC).
	The NDNAD does not hold data on reported matches and their outcomes (sanction detections). Obtaining this information would require cross searching of records held on the PNC against the NDNAD, and then contacting each police force that received the DNA match to ascertain the outcome. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	It is not possible to provide details of the number of searches made of the National DNA Database (NDNAD) in each of the last five years. Each time a subject or crime stain profile is loaded onto the NDNAD it is searched against all the retained profiles. No record has been kept of the number of searches but thousands of these searches are made of the NDNAD every day.
	In the last five years the following matches have been recorded:
	
		
			  (i) Matches where a crime scene was linked with one or more subjects 
			   Number 
			 2006-07 42,208 
			 2005-06 44,611 
			 2004-05 40,879 
			 2003-04 39,335 
			 2002-03 43,904 
		
	
	
		
			  (ii) Matches where a crime scene was linked to another crime scene 
			   Number 
			 2006-07 3,349 
			 2005-06 4,237 
			 2004-05 4,349 
			 2003-04 2,816 
			 2002-03 3,258

Drugs: Crime

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what quantity of illegal drugs was seized by the police in  (a) 1997 and  (b) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: The latest available data on drug seizures is for 2004 and can be found in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin series "Seizures of Drugs, England and Wales 2004". The quantities seized by the police in England and Wales, for 1997 and 2004, for each drug are shown in the table attached.
	The quantities of LSD and ecstasy-type drugs (including MDMA) seized have been listed in thousands of doses seized rather than as a weight. In 2004 the seized LSD quantity was published in number of doses; this answer gives seized LSD quantities in thousands of doses.
	Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces and HM Revenue and Customs. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.
	
		
			  Table S3 Quantity of seizures of Class A, B and C drugs made by police( 1)  by drug type and year, England and Wales, 1997 and 2004 
			   Quantity( 2)  of seizures 
			  Drug type  1997  2004 
			 Class A   
			 Cocaine 270 1,270 
			 Crack 30 130 
			 Heroin 420 1,130 
			 LSD(2) 40 6(3) 
			 Ecstasy-type(2) 360 1,680 
			 Methadone 110 60 
			 Morphine 0 0 
			 Other Class A 0 10 
			
			  Class B   
			 Amphetamines 570 930 
			 Barbiturates — — 
			 Cannabis (herbal)(4) 8,180 * 
			 Cannabis plants (2, 4) 77,570 * 
			 Cannabis resin (4) 60,790 * 
			 Other Class B 0 — 
			
			  Class C   
			 Benzodiazepines 0 0 
			 Cannabis (herbal) ) * 2,790 
			 Cannabis plants(2, 4) * 88,670 
			 Cannabis resin(4) * 21,680 
			 Temazepam 0 — 
			 Anabolic steroids 10 0 
			 GHB * 0 
			 Other Class C 0 0 
			 (1) Seizures from joint operations involving HM Revenue and Customs and the police are generally recorded against HM Revenue and Customs.  (2) Drugs are seized in a variety of forms but where possible, for the purpose of this table, amounts have been converted to weights (kg), except for seizures of LSD and Ecstasy-type which are given in thousands of doses. Cannabis plants are given in thousands of plants. Seizures of unspecified quantities are not included.  (3) Published as 6190 doses  (4) From January 2004,Cannabis was reclassified from a class B to a class C drug.   Notes:  1. MDMA prior to 1996.  2. Seizures from joint operations involving HM Revenue and Customs and the police are generally recorded against HM Revenue and Customs.

Fraud: East Sussex

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of  (a) identity and  (b) online fraud were recorded in (i) Eastbourne and (ii) East Sussex in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not available centrally. The use of another person's identification details (or the use of false identification details), often referred to as identity theft, is not in itself an offence in law. It is the action that is undertaken using those identification details, that needs to be considered in respect of whether an offence has occurred and should be recorded.
	With regard to online fraud, this is not a separately defined offence in law and such instances will be recorded under the appropriate fraud classification depending on the circumstances of the offence.

Passports: Biometrics

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the time taken to verify  (a) a biometric passport and  (b) a non-biometric passport at passport control (i) prior to and (ii) after the introduction of biometric-capability passport readers.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 23 July 2007
	The new scanners are able to automatically read more data from passports and other travel documents than the old swipe system, which means that less details have to be input manually and improved security and fraud checks can be undertaken. They are also able to read the new biometric chips, providing immigration officers with an additional tool to combat identity fraud.
	It is critical to the security of the United Kingdom that we verify the identity of all those who seek to enter the country. While allowing most passengers into the United Kingdom quickly, thorough checks are necessary to turn away those who present a risk to the public and prevent illegal immigration.

Duchy of Lancaster: Finance

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the disbursement from the surplus of the Duchy of Lancaster to the Queen was in each year from 1979.

Edward Miliband: The information requested is available in the Libraries of the house for the reference of Members.

Historical Inquiries

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the cost of the ongoing historical inquiries in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the total cost to the public purse of work on historical inquiries in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Members for Forest of Dean (Mr. Harper), Bracknell (Mr. Mackay) and Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill).

Saville Inquiry

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on the Saville inquiry.

Shaun Woodward: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Members for Forest of Dean (Mr. Harper), Bracknell (Mr. Mackay) and Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill).

Parades Commission

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the findings of the Review of the Parades Commission.

Shaun Woodward: The work of the Strategic Review of Parading, chaired by Lord Ashdown, is under way, and is due to report in early 2008. This review aims to find a settled cross community view on the issue of parading.

Departments: Visits Abroad

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many overseas visits were made by  (a) officials and  (b) Ministers within his responsibility, and at what cost, in each year since 1997.

Angela Eagle: In 2006-07, travel and subsistence costs for the Treasury were £1,881,000. Further detail relating to the number of visits could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In respect of total costs for earlier years, I refer to the answer given by the then Financial Secretary (John Healey) to the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) on 12 June 2006,  Official Report, column 926W.
	Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis, a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500, as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2006-07 is currently being compiled and will be published before the summer recess. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the civil service management code and the ministerial code.

Business: Islwyn

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  how many residents of Islwyn constituency started their own business in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many VAT registrations there were in Islwyn constituency in each of the last five years.

Stephen Timms: The number of VAT registrations in the Islwyn parliamentary constituency is shown as follows for 2001 to 2005. Data for 2006 will be published autumn 2007.
	
		
			  VAT registrations ,  Islwyn parliamentary constituency 
			   Number 
			 2001 85 
			 2002 95 
			 2003 130 
			 2004 115 
			 2005 100 
			  Source: Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994-2005. Available at http://stats.berr.gov.uk/smes/vat 
		
	
	Although the number of new registrations has fluctuated over the period, the total number of VAT registered businesses in Islwyn parliamentary constituency has increased from 1,005 in 2001 to 1,110 at the start of 2006, an increase of 105 (10 per cent.).
	VAT registration data provides the only accurate indicator of the level of start-up activity at the constituency level.
	However, VAT registrations do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which was £60,000 at the start of 2006. Only 1.8 million out of 4.3 million UK enterprises (42 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2005.

Business: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many businesses there are in York; how many there were in 1997; and how many businesses have  (a) started and  (b) ceased trading in York since 1997.

Stephen Timms: Estimates of the total business population, which includes businesses with a turnover above and below the VAT threshold, are not produced below the regional level. However, data on the total number of VAT registered businesses, and the number of businesses registering and de-registering for VAT each year, in each UK constituency are published by BERR. Data is available at:
	http://stats.berr.gov.uk/smes/vat
	There were 2,085 VAT registered businesses in the City of York constituency at the start of 1997. At the start of 2006 there were 2,495 VAT registered businesses, a rise of 410 (20 per cent.) over the period.
	Between 1997 and 2005 (inclusive) there were 2,125 new VAT registrations and 1,720 VAT de-registrations in the City of York constituency.
	Registration and de-registration data for 2006, and stock data for the start of 2007, will be published autumn 2007.
	VAT registrations do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which was £60,000 at the start of 2006. Similarly, businesses that de-register may not have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 4.3 million UK enterprises (42 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2005.

Children: Protection

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2007,  Official Report, column 264W, on children: protection, what steps the Government plans to take before the implementation of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 in autumn 2008 to prevent known paedophiles from opening a children's agency specialising in theatre, television and modelling.

Patrick McFadden: Under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 it is an offence to knowingly offer work to or to employ a person in a child care position if they are disqualified from working with children either by virtue of being included on one of the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Lists (the Protection of Children Act (PoCA) List or its equivalent in Scotland or List 99) or a disqualification order from the court. Individuals who apply or offer to work, accept work or continue to work with children in such positions will be committing a criminal offence and can face prosecution if they are disqualified from working with children.
	The extent to which those running a children's agency specialising in theatre, television and modelling would be covered by the PoCA regulations would depend on the nature of their actual work. However, if a person is deemed to be caring for children under 16 in the course of the children's employment they would be in a regulated position and therefore covered by PoCA.

Departments: Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what percentage of sick leave taken by staff in his Department was stress-related in each of the last three years.

Gareth Thomas: The following shows the percentage of sick leave taken by staff in the former DTI which was stress-related in each of the last three years:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 2006-07 19.8 
			 2005-06 11.5 
			 2004-05 5.6 
		
	
	The aforementioned data cover all recorded conditions related, or possibly related, to stress and do not distinguish between work and non-work related stress. These data should be considered in the context of an average sickness absence figure for 2006 of 5.4 days for the former DTI which is below the average for a civil service medium sized policy based organisations of 6.6 days.
	Our ongoing support measures for helping staff reporting stress-related sick leave include the following:
	Early referral to the Department's medical adviser,
	Return to work interviews,
	Independent confidential,
	A "Keeping in Touch" policy for those on long term sick leave,
	Participation in the cross-Whitehall network on stress management.

Industrial Relations: Disputes Procedures

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1545W, on industrial relations: disputes procedures, for what reasons his Department only supports mediation through the funding of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service; whether his Department plans to support mediation through additional means in the future; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The review undertaken by Michael Gibbons' was a far-reaching, independent review covering all aspects of resolving employment disputes in the workplace in Great Britain.
	In light of this review and the responses received to the consultation "Resolving Disputes in the Workplace", the Government are currently developing their plans for the way forward on the resolution of employment disputes including the role of mediation. These plans will be published in due course.

Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry: Arbitration

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) of 17 July 2007,  Official Report, column 285W, on the Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry: Arbitration, when in the autumn he expects the response to Michael Gibbon's review.

Patrick McFadden: Michael Gibbon's review was published on 21 March. Alongside the Gibbons review, we published a consultation document seeking views on ways of helping resolve employment disputes successfully in the workplace. That consultation closed on 20 June 2007, and we received over 400 responses to it. We are analysing the responses received and will publish the Government response when it is ready, in the autumn.

Mediation: Qualifications

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether his Department has assessed the merits of introducing statutory  (a) registration and  (b) qualifications for mediators.

Patrick McFadden: The review undertaken by Michael Gibbons' was a far-reaching, independent review covering all aspects of resolving employment disputes in the workplace in Great Britain, including mediation.
	Aspects of mediation were covered in the public consultation "Resolving Disputes in the Workplace". The Government are currently assessing responses to this consultation and developing their plans for the way forward on the resolution of employment disputes. These plans will be published in due course.

Small Businesses: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many small businesses there were in City of York  (a) constituency and  (b) local authority area in each year since 1992.

Stephen Timms: Estimates of the total small business population, which includes businesses with a turnover above and below the VAT threshold, are not produced below the regional level.
	However data on the total number of VAT registered businesses in each UK constituency and local authority is published by BERR. Data for City of York parliamentary constituency and York unitary authority are shown as follows for the years 1994 to 2006. Data prior to 1994 are not available. Data for the start of 2007 will be published autumn 2007.
	
		
			  Number of VAT registered businesses at the start of each year 
			   City of York PC  York UA 
			 1994 2,120 4,055 
			 1995 2,120 4,050 
			 1996 2,110 4,065 
			 1997 2,085 4,080 
			 1998 2,130 4,170 
			 1999 2,165 4,260 
			 2000 2,200 4,335 
			 2001 2,230 4,445 
			 2002 2,270 4,535 
			 2003 2,270 4,640 
			 2004 2,355 4,775 
			 2005 2,420 4,865 
			 2006 2,495 4,940 
			  Source: Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994-2005. Available at: www.dtistats.net/smes/vat/ 
		
	
	Between 1994 and 2006 the number of VAT registered businesses Increased by 18 per cent. in the City of York constituency, and by 22 per cent. in York unitary authority.
	VAT registrations do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which was £60,000 at the start of 2006. Only 1.8 million out of 4.3 million UK enterprises (42 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2005.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many teenagers were admitted to accident and emergency in  (a) Hampshire and  (b) England as a result of drinking alcohol in the last (i) 12 months and (ii) five years;
	(2)  what treatments were most frequently administered to teenage drinkers admitted to accident and emergency departments in the last  (a) 12 months and  (b) five years in (i) Hampshire and (ii) England.

Dawn Primarolo: Data on the age of patients attended to or the treatments given in accident and emergency (A & E) departments is not collected centrally.
	It should be noted that there is a difference between alcohol related disease and other alcohol related admissions: Data on the age of patients attended to or the treatments given in A & E departments is not collected centrally. Data is also not collected on injuries sustained where alcohol has been a contributory factor.
	However, the following table shows the numbers of Finished Admission Episodes (FAE) for 13 to 19-year-olds admitted to hospital via A & E departments with a primary diagnosis of alcohol related illnesses for each year for the past five years.
	
		
			  Count of FAE with a primary diagnosis of alcohol related Illnesses admitted via  A & E  for 13-19 year olds,  d ata for NHS Hospitals, England, 2005-06 
			   Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority of Residence  England (inc. Hampshire) 
			 2005-06 191 5,575 
			 2004-05 171 4,800 
			 2003-04 155 4,455 
			 2002-03 125 3,758 
			 2001-02 102 4,102 
			  Notes:  FAE A FAE is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients as a person may have more than one admission within the year.  Assessing growth through time Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected by the national health service, there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be accounted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  Diagnosis (primary diagnosis) The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (7 prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the HES data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.  The ICD10 Codes used to define alcohol related conditions are as follows: T5lToxic Effect of Alcohol K70—Alcoholic Live Disease F10—Mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol  Age: Data is for those who were between 13 and 19 years old at the start of the episode  Admission Method:  Admission method 21 and 28 were selected for A & E admissions This data is for patients admitted to hospital as an inpatient, via A & E. This does not reflect the number of A & E attendances.  Source:  HES, The Information Centre for Health and Social Care

Chemicals: Health Hazards

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on human health of man-made chemicals found in household goods, with particular reference to  (a) perfluorinated compounds,  (b) phthalates,  (c) phenolic compounds and  (d) brominated flame retardants; and what measures the Government plans to protect human health against the effects of such chemicals.

Dawn Primarolo: Regulations are in place that require the manufacturers of household goods to make risk assessments on the impact of the chemicals found in those household goods, and this would include any impacts on human health. Responsibility for these regulations lies with other Departments.
	Manufacturers and suppliers of chemicals and chemical products are required under the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2002 to classify their products in line with an European Union-wide classification system and to label them accordingly. When appropriate, the product must carry a warning symbol and risk phrases that indicate the category of hazard. When supplied for workplace use, the products must additionally have a safety data sheet that sets out the particular risks associated with the use of the product.
	Since 1993, over one hundred hazardous substances have been assessed for their risk to human health and the environment under the European Union's Existing Substances Regulation (EC/793/93). Where appropriate, control measures have been put in place including, in some cases, restrictions on the marketing and use of these substances.
	Other regulations for protecting the consumer are the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform's General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (GPSR) which implement the European Commission (EC) General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC) and apply to all consumer products that are not covered (and to the same extent) by specific European safety legislation. The GPSR requires manufacturers to ensure that products present no risk or only the minimum risk compatible with the product's use, and that they are accompanied by appropriate warnings and instructions for use.
	The EC has adopted the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, and amending Directive 67/548/EEC and Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 (COM(2007) 355 final). This proposed act will align the EU system of classification, labelling and packaging substances and mixtures to the United Nations Globally Harmonised System (GHS). It will complement the new EU Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation Chemicals (REACH).
	 Perfluorinated compounds
	The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) provided advice on the toxicity and tolerable daily intake of perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate. The statement was published in November 2006.
	 Phthalates
	Phthalates are a family of chemical substances, with a range of properties. Extensive research into the effects of certain phthalates on both the environment and human health has been carried out at a European level, under the auspices for the EU's Existing Substances Regulation (793/93/EC). Details of the programme can be found on the European Chemicals Bureau website at:
	ecb.jrc.it/existing-chemicals/.
	The United Kingdom takes the view that phthalates must be considered on a case-by-case basis and that risk assessments should be based on evidence. Where the database is insufficient to complete a risk assessment, it is normally expected that the industry will carry out the required additional research. However, Government have asked its expert committee, COT, to keep the area of environmental chemicals and reproductive health under review and will consider their advice on the need for additional research in this area.
	 Phenolic compounds
	The term used may apply to phenolic disinfectants, phenolic resins or to the vast range of chemicals which include a phenol ring, some of which will have had assessments carried out.
	 Brominated flame retardants
	COT reviewed the toxicology of the brominated flame retardant, tetrabromobisphenol A, in relation to potential environmental contamination and their statement was published in 2004.
	The UK has carried out the EC risk assessment for three (octa-, deca-, and penta-bromodiphenyl ether) of the commercially available brominated flame retardants. There was concern about the long-term effects of brominated flame retardants, which are necessarily stable in conditions of extreme heat, and in some cases are persistent. Strategies to reduce exposure are developed if an unacceptable risk is identified. For example, the brominated flame retardant Pentabromodiphenyl ether has been banned in the EU since 15 August 2004 under the EU's Marketing and Use Directive for all uses, except for a temporary derogation until March 2006 for it use in aircraft emergency evacuation slides. This ban is implemented in Great Britain by Statutory Instrument 2004/3278 and in Northern Ireland by SI 2004/509.

Children: Deviance and Behaviour Disorders

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what facilities there are to provide support, assistance and respite care for the families of under 18-year-olds with conditions that can cause severe behavioural problems;
	(2)  what facilities there are for the residential care of under 18-year-olds with conditions that can cause severe behavioural problems; and where those facilities are located.

Ivan Lewis: The publication in September 2004 of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) standard of the National Service Framework for Children Young People and Maternity Services gives guidance on what is envisaged in a comprehensive CAMHS service. It stresses that services must also ensure support for parents or carers and other family members.
	There are inpatient units for under 18's with severe mental health problems resulting in behavioural disorders run by the national health service and privately. These are commissioned as part of CAMHS commissioning. These are located all around the country. In some instances young people end up on adult wards. However, the most important change that has been made to the Mental Health Bill is that it will now require hospital managers to ensure that patients under 18 who are admitted to hospital for assessment or treatment, either under the Act or as voluntary patients, are placed in an environment that is suitable for their age.
	For severe behavioural disorders that are not due to mental health disorders there are also local authority secure children's homes and secure forensic units for young offenders with mental health problems. We do not collect information on where these facilities are located. This of course only reflects the position in England.

Compulsorily Detained Mental Patients

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients, subject to sectioning orders, have absconded from secure mental hospitals in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: An abscond occurs when a mental health patient detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 goes missing outside of the secure perimeter of a unit, e.g. when on a scheduled visit. Absconds do not occur from within secure units. If a patient managed to get out from within the secure perimeter of a unit, this would be termed an escape.
	The Department does not routinely collect data on absconds centrally in regard to all mental health services, with the exception of high secure mental health hospitals.
	An abscond can be either non-serious or a serious untoward incident (SUI). In relation to mental health patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983, an abscond is treated as an SUI where a significant risk is posed to the patient or to others. An abscond would not necessarily be treated as an SUI where the abscond is unintentional, due for example to a patient missing a bus or train when returning from leave.
	The reporting of SUI absconds is stringent. Individual national health service organisations are responsible for identifying SUIs and there must be clear local procedures at each NHS organisation to identify, report and investigate SUIs. Information is collected by, and is available on request from, each strategic health authority about all SUIs reported during each calendar year by month, type and NHS organisation. There are no similar requirements in relation to collecting non-serious abscond data.
	The data on absconds from high secure mental health hospitals for the last five years is in the following table.
	
		
			   Rampton  Ashworth  Broadmoor  Total 
			 2007 — — — 0 
			 2006 — — — 0 
			 2005 — 1 — 1 
			 2004 — — 1 1 
			 2003 1 — — 1 
			 Total absconds in last five years from high secure — — — 3 
		
	
	All absconds occurred while patients were on escorted leave. Escorted leave is authorised as necessary, for instance if the patient needs to visit a general hospital for treatment of a physical health problem that cannot be dealt with at the high security hospital. In all cases, the leave will be risk assessed by mental health professionals before being authorised.
	There have been no escapes in the last five years by patients in high secure hospitals.

Genito-Urinary Medicine: Waiting Lists

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made and what the timetable is for future steps to be taken towards the commitment in the White Paper Choosing Health that everyone referred to a genito-urinary medicine clinic should be able to have an appointment within 48 hours; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: We are making excellent progress on our target. Data from the genito-urinary medicine monthly monitoring return showed that in May 2007, 85 per cent. of first attendances were offered an appointment to be seen within 48 hours of contacting a service.
	A National Support Team is supporting those primary care trusts that are most challenged in meeting the target.

Health Services: East Sussex

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) out-patient appointments and  (b) operations there were in (i) Eastbourne and (ii) East Sussex in each of the last 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not collected in the format requested.
	The number of out-patient appointments for all specialities for national health service trusts in the East Sussex area is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Out-patient appointments, all specialties, selected NHS trusts 
			   Code  Name  First attendances seen  Subsequent attendances seen  Total out-patient appointments 
			 1997-98 RDL Eastbourne Hospitals Trust 41,675 101,283 142,958 
			 1997-98 RDM Hastings and Rother NHS Trust 36,353 99,888 136,241 
			 1997-98 RGX Eastbourne and County Healthcare NHS Trust 5,290 14,023 19,313 
			 1997-98 RDR South Downs Health NHS Trust 3,945 23,236 27,181 
			 1998-99 RDL Eastbourne Hospitals Trust 41,957 108,291 150,248 
			 1998-99 RDM Hastings and Rother NHS Trust 35,487 102,393 137,880 
			 1998-99 RGX Eastbourne and County Healthcare NHS Trust 4,606 13,042 17,648 
			 1998-99 RDR South Downs Health NHS Trust 3,979 23,427 27,406 
			 1999-2000 RDL Eastbourne Hospitals Trust 43,955 113,630 157,585 
			 1999-2000 RDM Hastings and Rother NHS Trust 51,797 81,728 133,525 
			 1999-2000 RGX Eastbourne and County Healthcare NHS Trust 5,316 13,567 18,883 
			 1999-2000 RDR South Downs Health NHS Trust 3,947 23,921 27,868 
			 2000-01 RDL Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust 46,050 117,320 163,370 
			 2000-01 RDM Hastings and Rother NHS Trust 54,711 82,276 136,987 
			 2000-01 RGX Eastbourne and County Healthcare NHS Trust 4,647 12,114 16,761 
			 2000-01 RDR South Downs Health NHS Trust 4,546 27,648 32,194 
			 2001-02 RDL Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust 45,051 114,607 159,658 
			 2001-02 RDM Hastings and Rother NHS Trust 53,950 87,081 141,031 
			 2001-02 RGX Eastbourne and County Healthcare NHS Trust 5,989 11,477 17,466 
			 2001-02 RDR South Downs Health NHS Trust 4,568 28,754 33,322 
			 2002-03 RXD East Sussex County Healthcare NHS Trust 25 47 72 
			 2003-04 RXD East Sussex County Healthcare NHS Trust 2 — 2 
			 2004-05 RXD East Sussex County Healthcare NHS Trust 260 150 410 
			 2005-06 RXD East Sussex County Healthcare NHS Trust 99 152 251 
			 2002-03 RXC East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 94,543 201,997 296,540 
			 2003-04 RXC East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 99,305 197,791 297,096 
			 2004-05 RXC East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 87,038 198,362 285,400 
			 2005-06 RXC East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 69,569 151,930 221,499 
			 2006-07 RXC East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 91,435 188,033 279,468 
			  Note: The following NHS trusts merged in 2002-03  RXD East Sussex County Healthcare NHS Trust: RGX Eastbourne and County Healthcare NHS Trust; RDM Hastings and Rother NHS Trust (MH and LD services); and RDR South Down Health NHS Trust (MH and LD services).  RXC East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust: RDL Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust; and RDM Hastings and Rother NHS Trust (acute services).  Source: Department of Health form QMOP and QM08s. 
		
	
	The definition of operations is not clear. A count of finished consultant episodes that include an operation (for OPCS codes A01-X59 and not known) at the trusts identified for Eastbourne and East Sussex. The 'not known' operation codes occur when an entry has been made in the operation field (thus indicating an operation has occurred). However, this entry does not match the valid OPCS4 codes.
	The number of finished consultant episodes is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Count of finished consultant episodes with an operation (OPCS-4 codes between A01-X59 or and (operation code not known)) at three selected trusts, NHS hospitals, England 
			   Trust  2005-06  2004-05  2003-04  2002-03 
			 RXC East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 60,010 52,566 53,067 50,037 
			 RXD East Sussex County Healthcare NHS Trust 64 78 52 94 
			 RXH Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust 63,290 59,271 50,954 52,661 
			  Notes:  Finished consultant episode (FCE) An FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.  FCE with an Operation A count of FCEs with an operation is the number of episodes with at least one coded procedure field. More procedures are carried out than finished consultant episodes with an operation. For example, patients undergoing a cataract operation would tend to have at least two procedures—removal of the faulty lens and the fitting of a new one—counted in a single finished consultant episode.  Data Quality Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected, the NHS there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  Ungrossed Data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).

Health: Schools

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on what progress has been made and what the timetable is for future steps towards all schools reaching healthy status by 2009 as described in the White Paper 'Choosing Health'; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: As at 23 July, there were 10,280 schools (46 per cent.) who had gained the national healthy schools status and 90 per cent. of all schools in England have joined the national healthy schools programme. We are on track to meet our December 2007 milestone for there to be 55 per cent. of schools achieving national healthy schools status and 65 per cent. by December 2008. We expect that all schools will have achieved or working towards the national healthy schools status by 2009 as set out in the 'Choosing Health' White Paper.

Home Care Services

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the guidance relating to home care to ensure that assessment of means is separate from assessment of needs has been changed.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 24 July 2007
	No. On 1 January 2003, the Department issued 'Fair Access to Care Services', guidance on eligibility criteria for adult social care, to councils for implementation by April 2003. It was issued under cover of Local Authority Circular— LAC (2002)13— and is still in force.
	Practice guidance in support of the policy guidance was published on 2 August 2002 and updated on 6 March 2003 to assist councils with their final preparations for implementation by 7 April 2003. The practice guidance makes it clear that the carrying out and completion of a community care assessment should not be contingent on whether or not an individual can pay for care services, be they provided in a care home or the individual's own home.

Infectious Diseases: East Sussex

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of healthcare-acquired infections there were while in  (a) hospital and  (b) care homes in (i) Eastbourne and (ii) East Sussex in each of the last 10 years.

Ann Keen: The data is not available as requested.
	The best available information is from the mandatory surveillance systems for Meticillin resistant  staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile infection and Glycopeptide resistant enterococci for acute national health service trusts in England rather than individual hospitals, these commenced in April 2001, January 2004 and October 2003 respectively.
	Data for Care Homes is not collected centrally as mandatory surveillance only covers acute trusts.
	Reported cases of health care associated infection for the East Sussex NHS trust in Eastbourne are shown in the following tables with reports from other NHS acute trusts in East Sussex.
	
		
			  Number of reported MRSA bloodstream infections (bacteraemias) 
			  Trust  April 2001 to March 2002  April 2002 to March 2003  April 2003 to March 2004  April 2004 to March 2005  April 2005 to March 2006  April 2006 to December 2006 
			 East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 67 52 60 42 59 71 
			 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust 86 74 107 129 141 80 
			 Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust 28 47 48 35 37 17 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of reported cases of Clostridium difficile infection 
			  Trust  January to December 2004  January to December 2005  January to December 2006 
			 East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 393 387 374 
			 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust 368 472 588 
			 Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust 315 283 282 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of reported cases of glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (GRE) bacteraemia 
			  Trust  October 2003 to September 2004  October 2004 to September 2005 
			 East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 2 4 
			 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust 5 2 
			 Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust 3 0 
			  Source: Health Protection Agency

Mental Health Services: Hertfordshire

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will take steps to increase the funding allocated to Hertfordshire's mental health services;
	(2)  what the total amount of NHS funding made available to the Hertfordshire Partnership Mental Health Trust was in each financial year from 2001.

Ivan Lewis: The Department allocates funding directly to primary care trusts (PCTs). It is the responsibility of PCT to ensure that the services they commission meet the needs of the communities that they serve.
	Hertfordshire Partnership Mental Health Trust's planned investment is as follows, these are the latest data available.
	
		
			   Planned investment in mental health (£ million) 
			 2002-03 39.9 
			 2003-04 57.2 
			 2004-05 55.2

Mental Health Services: Young People

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many strategic health authorities offer a Child and adolescent mental health services specialist on 24-hour call out service;
	(2)  which child and adolescent mental health services facilities  (a) closed and  (b) experienced a reduction in services during each of the last three years.

Ivan Lewis: Information is not collected centrally on the child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) that may have closed or have reduced services in the last three years.
	However, the latest information coming from the Department's public service agreement standard of a comprehensive CAMHS in every area shows that every primary care trust, bar two, has met the assessment of this standard. Achievement of the standard has been assessed against three proxy measures, one of which is the provision of a 24/7 emergency service.

NHS Next Stage Review

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his oral statement of 4 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 91-3, on NHS next stage review, if he will refer the decision to the Oxfordshire Radcliffe NHS Trust to reconfigure services at the Horton General hospital in Banbury, referred to him by the Oxfordshire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, to the independent reconfiguration panel.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 23 July 2007
	The oral statement of 4 July clearly stated that while Lord Darzi is undertaking his wide-ranging review of the NHS, the Secretary of State will, as a matter of course, ask the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) for advice on any decisions made at a local level which have been referred by Overview and Scrutiny Committees.
	As of 17 July 2007, a letter of referral from Oxfordshire Overview and Scrutiny Committee has not been received by the Department. Should such a referral be forthcoming, we would expect to seek the advice of the IRP on the case.

NHS: Carbon Emissions

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the annual carbon dioxide output of the NHS; and whether his Department is meetings its set targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Ivan Lewis: The most recent available figures show that in 2005-06 the estimated carbon dioxide output in the national health service was 3.31 million tonnes.
	The NHS was set mandatory targets in respect of energy efficiency and carbon emissions in 2001. In order to maintain the progress it has been making towards meeting these targets, the then Minister of State for Health Delivery and Reform (Andy Burnham) launched a £100 million capital energy and sustainability fund in January 2007. The fund will allow improvements in electrical efficiency and reduced carbon emissions in the NHS through a combination of various schemes. These will include identifying renewable energy sources, the installation of better building insulation, installation of combined heat and power units and the replacement of inefficient boilers and distribution systems.
	In respect of its own separate operational estate, the Department is currently on track to meet its target to reduce office carbon dioxide emissions by 12.5 per cent. by 2010-11, relative to 1999-2000 levels. It is also on track to meet the target to reduce its road transport emissions by 15 per cent. by 2010, relative to 2005-06 levels, including a new transport policy that will offer the opportunity to identify further savings.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Young People

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children and young people under the age of 18 years have been diagnosed with  (a) chlamydia,  (b) gonorrhoea,  (c) genital herpes,  (d) genital warts,  (e) hepatitis B and  (f) syphilis in each of the last 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: Data for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, genital herpes, genital warts and syphilis are published by the Health Protection Agency in their annual report "Diagnoses of selected STIs by Strategic Health Authority, country, sex and age group, United Kingdom: 1997-2006", copies of which have been in the Library. Data is not collected by age for hepatitis B.
	This data is available at:
	www.hpa.org. uk/infections/topics_az/hiv_and_sti/epidemiology/datatables2006.htm.

Wheelchairs

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when he plans has to publish data provided by local wheelchair services in England to inform the new model of wheelchair service delivery;
	(2)  when he will publish the outline model for wheelchair service as part of the Transforming Community Equipment and Wheelchair Services Programme; and whether he will consult stakeholders on the suitability of the proposed model of wheelchair services following publication;
	(3)  what research has been undertaken to determine the adequacy and merits of a retail market model of provision for  (a) community equipment and  (b) wheelchair services for children and young people with complex disabilities;
	(4)  whether the demand forecasting tool envisaged by the proposed retail market model for community equipment services will record the unmet needs of children and young people.

Ivan Lewis: We have agreed a further data gathering exercise to be provided by local wheelchair services and have asked the care services efficiency delivery (CSED) programme to report to me in autumn 2007. A decision to publish data, research and the outline model will be made at that time.
	The outline model for community equipment services was published on the CSED website on 31 May 2007 at www.csed.csip.org.uk and has been placed in the Library. The Transforming Community Equipment and Wheelchair Services programme is a collaborative programme. CSED has worked in collaboration with over 250 stakeholders including users of services and their carers, local authority and health practitioners, current providers and suppliers, the third and private sectors, representatives of voluntary organisations, professional bodies and trade and provider associations to design a conceptual model suitable for adults and children.
	The programme is currently holding nine public regional events that are designed to share information, canvass opinion and collect feedback.
	The research undertaken has included determination of the adequacy and merits of a retail market model of provision for community equipment for children and young people with complex disabilities. A further validation exercise will take place in August 2007 to confirm that detailed design development is consistent with the needs of children.
	CSED are looking to adapt the projecting older people population information as the demand forecasting tool to take children's needs into account.

Wheelchairs: Young People

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many requests for new wheelchairs for children and young people in each of the last five years were granted  (a) within a month,  (b) within three months and  (c) after over six months;
	(2)  how many children are on a waiting list to receive  (a) a lightweight manual wheelchair and  (b) powered mobility equipment;
	(3)  how many NHS wheelchairs available for children and young people have been in service for  (a) less than one year,  (b) less than five years and  (c) more than 10 years.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally. national health service wheelchair services are funded and managed at a local level. It is up to individual primary care trusts to determine the appropriate level of funding for their service and to assess and meet the needs of each individual using their service.